Facebook parent company Meta has announced its decision to stop paying Australian media organizations for news content, a move that has sparked concern from the government, which accuses the tech giant of reneging on previous commitments.
In a global retreat from news content, Meta disclosed its plans to discontinue the Facebook News tab in Australia and terminate agreements with news publishers valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.
Explaining the decision, Meta asserted that users primarily engage with its platform for social interactions rather than news consumption and political content.
This decision deals a significant blow to Australian news outlets already grappling with financial challenges. Meta’s stance aligns with its earlier decisions to refrain from renewing content deals with news publishers in the United States, Britain, France, and Germany.
Governments worldwide had previously pressured Meta to compensate news outlets, aiming to address disparities in the media landscape and support struggling journalism businesses.
Meta’s commitment to pay for news content three years ago led the Australian government to amend legislation concerning online platforms’ interactions with the news media.
Reacting to Meta’s latest move, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland expressed dismay and hinted at potential retaliatory actions by the government.
Rowland criticized Meta’s decision as a breach of its commitment to sustaining Australian news media, emphasizing the adverse impact on the revenue streams of local news publishers.
She pledged to explore all available avenues to address the situation, including consultations with the country’s communications regulator. Rowland underscored the government’s dedication to fostering a robust, diverse, and sustainable media sector, crucial for democracy and social cohesion.
The cessation of payments by Meta to Australian news media underscores the ongoing challenges faced by traditional news outlets in the digital era, as they contend with evolving consumer preferences and the dominance of tech platforms in the advertising landscape.
